Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), May 17 (ANI): "Certainly, when the nation needs my services, I am available and I'm available for my country. To my mind, this has nothing to do with party politics. It's all to do with what our country has been through in recent times and the need for us to present a united front...It is a good reflection of national unity at a time when unity is important, " says Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on all-party delegation visiting key partner countries to project India's continued fight against cross-border terrorism and Operation Sindoor.
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00:00A very great honour, as a citizen being called upon to serve the nation at a time of crisis.
00:07For me it is an honour that I've been asked to lead the delegation and I look forward very much to playing my part.
00:15In my mind it has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with our country's national interests.
00:22And national interests in my mind are always above everything else.
00:25The party is completely entitled to its opinion. Clearly this being a government delegation, the government had its own opinion as to who they felt appropriate.
00:35This is not unprecedented and it is certainly something which, to my mind, is a good reflection of national unity at a time when unity is important.
00:45As I mentioned, it's a very great honour. As a citizen being called upon to serve the nation at a time of crisis is a matter of duty for all of us.
00:58At the same time for me it is an honour that I've been asked to lead the delegation and I look forward very much to playing my part.
01:06I've always said that when my services are required by the nation, I should not be found wanting and I had no hesitation in accepting the kind invitation of the government which to my mind is nothing to do with politics and everything to do with our country's national interests.
01:25And national interests, to my mind, are always above everything else.
01:29As I've said, the party is completely entitled to its opinion. Clearly this being a government delegation, the government had its own opinion as to who they felt appropriate.
01:50And I'm very, I must say, unaware of any further contacts between the government and my party.
01:59And I think you should ask those concerned. As far as I'm concerned, I was asked, both in my capacity as a chairman of a parliamentary standing committee dealing with these issues,
02:11but also because I have very kindly the minister talked about my personal experience over the years in international affairs and the need for that experience
02:20and such knowledge as I may, such talents as I may possess to be put to the service of the nation at this time.
02:27And I found that an absolutely essential, what can I say, answer to give that certainly when the nation needs my services,
02:37I am available and I'm available for my country. To my mind, this has nothing to do with party politics.
02:45It's all to do with what our country has been through in recent times and the need for us to present a united front.
02:55As I recall, and I may be wrong because I was neither in India nor in Indian politics at that time,
03:00a similar set of delegations were sent by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to various regions of the world after the 2008 terror attack.
03:07So this is not unprecedented and it is certainly something which to my mind is a good reflection of national unity at a time when unity is important.
03:18As you said, you see this as an honor, especially to reclaim a relegation to US and countries like that.
03:23But are you sad or disappointed at the way in which your party reacted or your party colleagues reacted?
03:28Look, I mean, my party or my party leadership is entitled to its opinion of my abilities or lack thereof,
03:35and I think that is really for them to explain.
03:37I have absolutely no comment to make on that.
03:42I am honored to have been entrusted with the responsibility, and I will fulfill that responsibility.
03:49Just as I have fulfilled every responsibility entrusted to me in my rather long working life,
03:55whether at the United Nations or in the Congress Party,
03:58I have fulfilled every task given to me with sincerity and commitment,
04:03and I intend to bring the same qualities to bear in my service in this particular mission.
04:10We are not talking about, you know, it's a 10-day affair.
04:13I'll be going to Delhi.
04:15In any case, we have a parliamentary standing committee meeting on Monday and Tuesday on various issues,
04:19including on this particular issue.
04:21I'm assuming that I will get further details of the mission after going there,
04:26and we expect, I'm sure, the delegation will get briefings from the Ministry of External Affairs,
04:32and we will proceed on that basis.
04:35I mean, I think that right now the focus is on a job of work that needs to be done for the country,
04:41and I'm truly honored to have been asked, and I will give my very best, as I always try to do.
04:46Have you informed the party when you received this invitation?
04:49Yes, indeed. No, I certainly informed them of the first call I got, which was two days ago,
04:55and I also mentioned to the minister who called me, who was a parliamentary affairs minister,
05:00that I assumed that he would be talking to the party leaderships of opposition parties,
05:04and he assured me that he would be.
05:07He also let me know that I was not the only one he was calling.
05:10There are other opposition MPs that he was calling,
05:13and I found it entirely appropriate, as I said, that the country should rally together,
05:18on this particularly important issue.
05:21And now that I've been entrusted with the task of leading one of the delegations,
05:25I intend to give it my best shot.
05:28Is there any communication gap between you and the party?
05:31Because this happens continuously.
05:34This happens?
05:35This communication gap between you and your party.
05:37No, the party has my telephone number, and they can call me anytime they like.
05:41I don't think there's any difficulty there.
05:44So as far as I'm concerned, I don't really see any communication gap.
05:48Sometimes one learns about certain statements from the media.
05:52That may mean that we have other means of communication as well.
05:56But I don't think there's a particular gap that I'm particularly worried about.